A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new article, designated §5-11B-1, §5-11B-2
and §5-11B-3, all relating to establishing the West Virginia
Religious Freedom Restoration Act; short title; definitions;
applicability; construction; and remedies.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-11B-1, §5-11B-2 and
§5-11B-3, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 11B. WEST VIRGINIA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT.

§5-11B-1. Short title.

This article may be cited as the "West Virginia Religious
Freedom Restoration Act."

§5-11B-2. Definitions.

As used in this article:

(a) “Demonstrates” means meets the burdens of going forward
with the evidence and of persuasion under the standard of clear and
convincing evidence.

(b) “Exercise of religion” means the exercise of religion
under article three, section fifteen of the Constitution of West
Virginia, and the First Amendment to the United States
Constitution.

(c) “Government entity” means any branch, department, agency
or instrumentality of state government, or any official or other
person acting under color of state law, or any political
subdivision of the state and does not include any local, regional
or federal correctional facility or any facility that treats
civilly committed sexually violent predators.

(a) A government entity may not substantially burden a
person’s free exercise of religion even if the burden results from
a rule of general applicability unless it demonstrates that
application of the burden to the person is: (1) Essential to
further a compelling governmental interest; and (2) the least
restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental
interest.

(b) Nothing in this section may be construed to: (1)
Authorize any government entity to burden any religious belief; or
(2) affect, interpret or in any way address those portions of
article three, section fifteen of the Constitution of West
Virginia, and the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
that prohibit laws respecting the establishment of religion.
Granting government funds, benefits or exemptions, to the extent
permissible under subdivision (2) of this subsection, does not
constitute a violation of this section. As used in this
subsection, “granting” used with respect to government funding,
benefits or exemptions does not include the denial of government
funding, benefits or exemptions.

(c) A person whose religious exercise has been burdened by
government in violation of this section may assert that violation
as a claim or defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding
and may obtain declaratory and injunctive relief from a circuit
court, but may not obtain monetary damages. A person who prevails
in any proceeding to enforce this section against a government
entity may recover his or her reasonable costs and attorney fees.
The provisions of this subsection relating to attorney fees does
not apply to criminal prosecutions.